We too will be on the June 8 Nautica sailing, our second Oceania European cruise. There are four in our party, and a couple we met on our first Oceania cruise (Baltic, 2004) will also be joining us.

We're interested in lining up excursions independently (Kusadasi, Livorno, etc.) and would like to be in touch with others who are doing likewise. Our experience doing this via the net for St. Petersburg on our 2004 cruise was so successful that we're emboldened to do so again. Our preference is to line up a small van, say for a party of ten or so. Price point is usually good, size manageable and ability to explore better than with the large bus tours provided by the cruiseline.

We'll also be in Rome the four nights prior to embarkation and would like to learn of other folks' tour plans there as well. It's my husband's and my first trip there, though my mother and daughter (who are joining us) have visited there previously.